3 Vegas Golden Knights Who Won't Be Back Next Season: Post Trade Deadline Fallout

The Vegas Golden Knights are well known for making cutthroat decisions to better the team each and every chance they get. This offseason won't be any different. There have been additions and other players who haven't shown they can help this team push forward and Vegas has definitely taken notice. After adding ahead of the trade deadline again, they are going to come back with a different lineup next season.

Reilly Smith

Adding Reilly Smith was a familiar addition back to the roster after playing elsewhere for a bit. Smith had the best years of his career in Vegas and even though he has only recorded two assists in eight games since being back, he is playing 15 minutes per game. The veteran is on the third line and is a UFA this summer. The Golden Knights will likely only keep him until the end of the season with the production he's put forth and the money he may demand. Unless he steps up when games start to matter more, Vegas will go another route on the wing.

Tanner Pearson

Tanner Pearson was a pickup this season by the Golden Knights and has not been bad at all. Though he is only 32 years old, he has been on the decline. He is on a one-year deal with Vegas and has 11 goals and 24 points in 66 games, but the question that has to be considered is if the team is going to look to re-sign him over players like Brandon Saad and Victor Olofsson. I wouldn't think so and there has to be room for upgrades somewhere. With how Pearson has played, he will be able to get another contract this summer.

Ilya Samsonov

Ilya Samsonov played better in the first half of the season and is now carrying a .889 SV%. Even though his GAA of 2.81 is not bad and he has six more wins than regulation losses because the team is good in front of him, Adin Hill just got a new contract and Vegas' mentality is to replace what isn't working with what has a better chance to. There will be goalies available in free agency and I expect the Golden Knights to go out and get another one as Samsonov is a UFA.